USS HARWOOD DD-861

A Tin Can Sailors Destroyer History

USS HARWOOD DD-861

The Tin Can Sailor, October 2007

The USS HARWOOD (DD‑861) was launched 22 May 1945 by San Pedro’s Bethlehem Steel Company and commissioned on 2 September 1945. She joined the Seventh Fleet, aiding in the occupation of Japan and participating in fleet and antisubmarine exercises before returning to San Diego in February 1947. Following a WestPac cruise in January 1949, she entered the Mare Island shipyard to receive the latest antisubmarine equipment. Redesignated DDE‑861 on 4 March 1949, the HARWOOD reported to Newport, Rhode Island in September to participate in research on cold weather ASW operations and fleet and training exercises.

Leaving  Norfolk in late August 1950 she made her first Mediterranean cruise and returned to the states in November 1950. Subsequent years fell into a pattern of training operations and yearly cruises to the Mediterranean. In January 1957 a three‑month ASW demonstration took her along the South American coast to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Panama, and Cuba.

Entering the New York Navy Yard in May 1961, she underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, receiving a new bridge, new types of torpedo tubes, and a hangar and launching deck for a DASH antisubmarine helicopter. In February 1962, she sailed to Mayport, Florida, and from there to the Caribbean. When the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted in October 1962, she was ready and sailed with 4 hours notice to join the fleet blockading the Communist island.

The HARWOOD was redesignated DD‑861 on 1 July 1963 and returned to Mayport on 2 November. She sailed for the Mediterranean in August and, en route, provided ASW service during Exercise Riptide IV. Once in the Mediterranean, she engaged in intense periods of AAW, ASW, and BCM exercises. Returning home in December, the destroyer operated along the Atlantic coast until getting underway in March 1964 for a brief visit to Brazil. She arrived in Annapolis on 1 June to embark midshipmen and sailed for Europe, visiting Norway, Belgium, France, and England before debarking the Middies at Norfolk.

In April 1965, the HARWOOD began a major overhaul at Norfolk after which she operated along the southeast U.S. coast until  July 1966 and another Mediterranean cruise. On this tour, she visited Aden and Kenya before rejoining the Sixth Fleet in November. She returned home in December and operated out of Newport, sailing for her tenth Mediterranean deployment in June 1967.

After a career of 26 years in the U. S. Navy, the  HARWOOD was decommissioned and transferred to the Turkish navy on 7 December 1971. There, she was commissioned as the KOCATEPE (D-354). Less than three years later, the HARWOOD earned a place in Turkish naval history, albeit a tragic one.

She had joined the Turkish navy on the eve of war between Turkey and Greece over the divided island of Cyprus. On 15 July 1974, the ages old conflict between Turkish Muslim and Greek Orthodox Cypriots came to a head when the pro-Greece National Guard overthrew the government of Archbishop Makarios forcing him to flee the country. As other nations attempted to broker a peaceful solution, the government of Turkey invaded the island, ostensibly to protect the Turks living on Cyprus.

On Friday, 19 July 1974, an invasion fleet of landing craft left the Turkish port of Mersin escorted by two  gun boats, the ex-U.S. destroyers KOCATEPE, MARESAL FAVZI CAKMAK (D-351), the ex-CHARLES H. ROAN (DD-853); ADATEPE (D-353), ex-FORREST ROYAL (DD-872); and the TINAZTEPE (D-355), ex-KEPPLER (DD-765). The Turkish forces were able to land at Pentemili on the northern coast of Cyprus under cover of fire from their destroyer force. The Greeks, however, held their own, and the destroyers’ fire, which often fell short, did little to break the stalemate.

That afternoon, Greek Cypriot forces landed at Pafos to join Greek army units. To reinforce the Turkish troops ashore, the Turkish command ordered the KOCATEPE, ADATEPE, and TINAZTEPE to Pafos. By Sunday afternoon, 21 July, the three destroyers were off Pafos. Using a clever ruse, Greek intelligence officers transmitted the information that the three Turkish destroyers were a Greek naval force. The Turks immediately launched an air strike against what they believed were enemy ships. The strike force of 36 bombers carrying 750-pound bombs failed to notice that the ships were flying Turkish flags and loosed their bombs. In the ten minute strike, their bombs inflicted heavy damage on all three ships. The destroyers fired back, downing at least one of their attackers, but they could not stop the onslaught. One of the bombs hit an ammunition magazine on the ex-HARWOOD, killing eighty of her crew and sending the destroyer to the bottom. Only 42 of her crew were rescued and the other two destroyers limped away, bound for Mesina and repairs. A few other indecisive battles ashore led to a truce, the overthrow of the military junta, and the return of the island’s government to civilians.

In need of another destroyer to replace the KOCATEPE, the Turkish navy took another look at the USS NORRIS (DD‑859), which they had received to use for replacement parts. Realizing she was still in good condition,  they commissioned the ship on 24 July 1975 with the same name and hull number as that of the ex-HARWOOD, KOCATEPE (D354). The second KOCATEPE served the Turkish navy for the next twenty years. She was decommissioned and sold for scrap in June 1994.

USS HARWOOD DD-861 Ship History

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, April 2016

Harwood (DD-861) was launched 22 May 1945 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., San Pedro, Calif.; sponsored by Mrs. Bruce Lawrence Harwood, widow of the late Commander Harwood; and commissioned 28 September 1945, Comdr. Reid P. Fiala in command.

After shakedown along the California coast, Harwood Joined the 7th Fleet in Chinese waters. In addition to aiding in the occupation of Japan, the destroyer also participated in fleet and antisubmarine exercises before returning to San Diego 21 February 1947. Harwood entered the Mare Island shipyard after a second WesPac cruise in January 1949 to be equipped with the latest antisubmarine equipment. Redesignated DDE-861 4 March 1950, the escort destroyer reported to her new home port, Newport, R.I., 11 September 1949 to participate in research on cold weather ASW operations as well as fleet and training exercises. Departing Norfolk in late August, Harwood made her first Mediterranean cruise with the 6th Fleet and returned to the States 10 November 1950.

Subsequent years fell into a pattern for Harwood as, to maintain her battle readiness and stress America’s commitment to the defense of democracy, she engaged in varied training maneuvers and made yearly cruises to the Mediterranean. Harwood sailed 4 January 1957 for a 3-month ASW demonstration which took her along the South American coast to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Panama and Cuba. Entering the New York Navy Yard 2 May 1961, Harwood underwent a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul. Her bridge was totally reconstructed, new types of torpedo tubes were installed, and the 3-inch antiaircraft guns were removed to accommodate a hangar and launching deck for DASH, an antisubmarine helicopter. Departing the yard 2 February 1962, Harwood sailed to her home port, Mayport, Fla., and from there to the Caribbean. When the Cuban crisis erupted in October 1962, Harwood was ready and sailed with 4 hours notice to join the blockading fleet “quarantining” the Communist island. Redesignated DD-861 on 1 July 1963, she returned Mayport 2 November.

Harwood sailed for the Mediterranean 6 August and provided ASW service during Exercise “Riptide IV” en route. She transited the Straits of Gibraltar on the 22d for intense periods of AAW, ASW, and BCM exercises in the Med. Returning home 23 December, the destroyer operated along the Atlantic coast until getting under way 31 March 1964 for a brief visit to Brazil. She arrived Annapolis 1 June, embarked midshipmen, and sailed for Europe. She visited Norway, Belgium, France, and England before debarking the “Middies” at Norfolk.

In April 1965 she began overhaul and alterations at Norfolk which turned out to be a major face lifting. On 22 August she returned to Mayport en route to Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, for refresher training. She operated along the coast of the Southern states until departing Mayport 22 July 1966 for the Mediterranean deployment. On this tour she transited the Suez Canal and visited Aden and Kenya before rejoining the 6th Fleet in the Med 2 November.

Harwood returned home 17 December. She operated out of Newport, off the New England coast until sailing for her 10th Mediterranean deployment 29 June 1967. Reaching Rota, Spain, 10 July, Harwood soon joined the 6th Fleet, an element of stability in the ancient and volatile sea which had so recently been churned by the Arab war with Israel.